NCAA track: USM’s Ruginski again wins a Division III national title in triple jump

DELAWARE, Ohio — University of Southern Maine junior Jamie Ruginski captured his second national championship by winning the triple jump Saturday at the NCAA Division III track and field championships.

Ruginski, of Buxton, soared 49 feet, 73/4 inches on the fifth of his six jumps to break his own school record and overtake early leader Dominique Torres (48-101/4) of Christopher Newport University.

Ruginski, who also won the NCAA indoor triple jump title in March, is now a four-time All-American.

“It’s even more amazing this time. Defending my title was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,’’ said Ruginski.

Ruginski hadn’t competed in the triple jump since winning the Little East Conference championship on April 27. He was in fourth place after his first three jumps and felt he was just missing his mark on the board.

Then he vaulted to the top of the standings on his fifth jump.

“I think I ended up by making the perfect jump,’’ he said.

USM tied for 14th in the team standings with 18 points, all scored by Ruginski, who was second in the long jump on Thursday.

Tufts sophomore Mitch Black of Brunswick and Bowdoin sophomore Jacob Ellis finished 2-3 in the 800 meters. Black earned All-America honors for the fifth time and improved on his third-place finish at the indoor nationals, posting a time of 1 minute, 51.30 seconds. Ellis was just behind in 1:51.37.

Sean Enos, a junior at Bates, placed fourth in the discus for the second year in a row with a personal-best throw of 172-1, becoming an All-American for the fifth time. Bates steeplechaser Kallie Nixon capped her career with her third All-America performance, finishing fifth in 10:38.79.

DIVISION II: Stonehill junior Maria Curit of Biddeford became an All-American for the first time, placing seventh in the 800 meters with a time of 2:10.75 at the NCAA championships in Allendale, Michigan.

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